What does it take to go from CIO to trusted business advisor?
In this episode of The Heartbeat Podcast, host Mike Sommer welcomes Karl Mosgofian—seasoned tech executive and former CIO of Gainsight—to unpack what it really means to lead IT in today’s dynamic enterprise environment.
With over three decades of experience, Karl shares hard-earned insights on scaling organizations, taming technical debt, and evolving IT from a back-office function to a strategic growth enabler. You’ll hear real-world strategies for implementing governance without killing innovation, selecting the right consulting partners, and building a future-proof technology foundation.
Whether you’re navigating startup growth, enterprise transformation, or somewhere in between—this conversation delivers the actionable guidance today’s IT leaders need.
🎯 Perfect for: CIOs, CTOs, IT Directors, and tech execs focused on aligning IT with business outcomes.
💡 Topics Covered:
- Redefining the CIO role in the modern enterprise
- From operator to advisor: the mindset shift
- Scaling infrastructure without chaos
- Managing consultants and hybrid teams
- Technical debt, governance, and innovation trade-offs
- Building systems that last beyond your tenure
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Subscribe to The Heartbeat newsletter for exclusive insights, CIO playbooks, and behind-the-scenes content: https://mailchi.mp/thekadencegroup/heartbeat-podcast-newsletter-tactical-insights-for-cios
📅 Want to explore how your IT strategy stacks up?
Book a free strategy call with our team: https://calendly.com/mike-sommer/linkedin-meeting-request
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#CIO #DigitalTransformation #ITLeadership #TechStrategy #TheHeartbeatPodcast #KarlMosgofian #EnterpriseIT #ITGovernance #ScalableTech
⏱️ Timestamps included for easy navigation!00:00 – Welcome & Introductions
00:12 – Personal reflections and career journey
01:11 – Shifting from CIO to strategic advisor
02:34 – Growth moments and leadership insights
04:05 – Managing scaling complexity
07:46 – Tackling technical debt effectively
13:23 – Change management through consulting
16:54 – How to choose the right consulting partner
17:13 – New models of IT consulting
18:09 – The “Done With You” consulting approach
19:03 – Custom solutions vs. best practices
21:05 – From startup agility to enterprise scale
23:43 – Why documentation drives consistency
31:32 – Balancing innovation with governance
34:25 – Final advice for today’s CIOs
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